Draw rolling machine



June 30, 1942. w. A.`\NE|GHTMAN r2,288,119

DRAW ROLLINGMACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1940 5 Ysheets-sheet 1 IN VEN TOR ATTORNEY William AM/eqhimcm.

June 39 1942 w. A. WEIGHTMAN i DRAW ROLLING' MACHINE 5 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, 1940 ATTORNEY June 30, 1942. 'w. A. WEIGHTMAN I DRAW ROLLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1S, 1940 5 sheets-*Sheva 5 INVENTOR William Aweighman.

June 30, 1942. l v w. A. WEIGHTMAN 2388A@ DRAW ROLLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1940 5 sneetssheet 4 INV/'VENTOR Y www I AfToRNE-Y June 30, 1942. w. A. WEIGHTMAN 2,288,119

DRAW ROLLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 19'40 'sneetS-sheet 5 JNCI Q" HGB I N VEN TOR 'ATTORNEY Will iam A Weightmcn,

must be equal to its task.

Patented June l 30,i 1942 2,288,119 l DRAW ROLLING MACHINE William A. Weightman, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Penn-g Sylvania `application; February 15, 1949,- seriai No. 318,983

(ci. a-2s) l 7 Claims.

This draw roll machine is of that type commonly utilized for the formation of relatively thin cross sections of strip material which is drawn through the rolls by force applied to the strip at that end of the rolls from which the iinished cross section emerges. Such machines have been found to be of outstanding merit in the formation of those extremely long members utilized in the manufacture of stainless steel railway cars. However, the invention, without doubt, has other-adaptations within its generic spirit and it is contemplated that the claims to be appended to this specification will protect the invention in whatsoever connection the generic spirit may be utilized.

The invention has a number of objects, outstandingly it is intended to enlarge, strengthen, rigidify, simplify, render more powerful, make more readily and more accurately adjustable, and otherwise to adapt this `type of machine to the rolling of larger cross sections from heavier gauge stock. The gauge of stock utilized in manufacturing railway cars from longitudinally-run elements formed from sheet strip vmaterial varies from a few thousandths of an inch to up- 'wards of M4, in some cases approaching and 1/2". 'I'he center sills of railway cars are often formed of stock varying between s'f and 1%" in thickness, and the cross sections, some 8 to 12 inches in width, are in lengths 100 odd feet long. These require very accurate progressive developments of cross section, and the draw pull requisite demands great power. The machine The adjustments especially provided are outstandingly the following: Independent relative axial adjustment of the roll-carrying heads is provided in combination with rolls of an axial dimension between end faces of that minimum consistent with the increment of section which they form respectively, whereby the axial lengths of the rolls and of their shafts between the heads provided without destroying the independent adjustment of the roll heads aforesaid.

A' Object is also found in an employmentv in the clamping means through which the strip is grasped in its delivery end and the draw pull is transmitted to it. Clamping means is used which derives its reaction from the clamping force through the member through which the draw pull is applied, and this member is so constituted that the greater the force of the draw, the greater rei sultant reaction and clamping force, sothat the strip cannot become uncoupled from the drawing means during operations.

are reduced to a minimum with the resultant minimum deecton of the rolls and their shafts and the reduction of bearing troubles.

Near the delivery end of the series of rolls, an

, intermediate roll is arranged to be laterally offset from the general rectilinear arrangement which characterizes the main series of rolls to the end oi correctingan'y' permanent set of the section occasioned either by the peculiarity of the section Other objects and advantages there are which 4will appear upon a full understanding of the invention as derived from the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptions.

'Of the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine in its entirety.

Fig. 2 is a. plan view.

sets of draw rolls at the delivery end of the series of draw rolls employed in the machine.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of these same three rolls shown in elevation in- Fig. 3.

' Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-section of the middle set of those shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the rolls next to the delivery end ofthe machine, the section being taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3. f

Fig. 6 is a transverse section of a pair of rolls in the plane of their` axesl taken looking, in the direction of line 6 6, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a similar transverse section' of another of the mating pairs of rolls, taken on the line l--l of Fig. l.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional elevation of the draw clamp, and

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal vsectional elevation of the same. i

Referring iirst to Figures 1 and 2, the machine comprises a seriesl of sets of mating draw rolls ill 'which are arranged in such alignment that they act upon the strip ll, the section of which is to be formed substantiallyin a common plane.

Six sets oi these rolls are shown, but there may A i in the form of a coil l2 which, for convenience being formed or else by the initial coiling of 7the f strip material being fed to the machine, to the end that the formed elements may be rectilinearly straight when complete. Such adjustment is sake,l is`mounted upon'a rotating table or reel i3 having vertical axis l4,the arrangement being such that the coil is supported in a horizontal plane and the strip material is turned through in order to position it in the horizontally disposed common plane in which the rolls il) act upon it. vThe sheet strip material II is threaded through all of 'the mating rolls in common, and its delivery end I5 is engaged by a draw clamp I6 through which the draw pull is applied. This pull is applied by a chain I'I of a length adequate to traverse the clamp I6, a distance equal to the length of the elements formed. Connection with the chain is by means of a link I8. The chain is driven through a suitable reduction gearing from the electric motor I9.

Each set of mating rolls I0 is supported in a pair of heads or pedestals 2U by means of vertically adjustable bearings 2I carriedlin suitable gibs in the heads. The heads of each pair individual to a set of mating rolls I0,`are independently adjustable axially towardgand from each other along horizontally ldisposed gibs 22 in the frame of the machine. The independent adjustmentis effected by racks and pinions 23, one individual to each head, and upon reaching adjustment, clamped in adjusted position by clamping bolts 24.

The mating rolls I0 are of progressively decreasing dimension between their end fac'es from the entrance end 25 of the machine to the delivery end 26, as can clearly be seen from inspection of Fig. 2, the rst mating set I0 at the entrance to the machine being substantially of the full width of the strip to be formed, and the last mating set I0 being substantially of the transverse dimension of the ultimate section which the strip is given. The heads 20 when in adjusted position substantially abut by their inner faces the end faces of the rolls. An inspection of Figs.

6 and '7, which show in transversely sectional 'justing screws 3 I.

One of the intermediate sets of mating rolls I0, in this case the next to that at the delivery end 26 of the machine, the set which Ihave designated I 0AV (Fig. 2), is rendered bodily vertically adjustable independently of the others, and likewise, independently of the independent relative axial adjustment of the heads 26. This is by means of the system of gearing shown in Figs.

3, `i, 5 and 7. This gearing comprises a pair of.

transverse shafts 32 each having worm gear and worm connection 33 at each end, with a vertical screwadjustment 34, individual one to each side of ea'ch roll head 20. Thus each shaft 32 if turned will serve to raise or lower the corresponding sides of both roll heads 20. The shafts 32 are interconnected by a third shaft 35 through worm and worm gears 36 at opposite ends of the shaft 35. One of the shafts 32 is provided with a squared end 3'I -for rotating it by means of a suitable crank or the like, and when it is rotated, all of the screws 34 are simultaneously operated upon through the worm gears 33 to simultaneously raise the heads 2l) `or lower the same tothe same degree. So raised or lowered they may be clamped in position by clamping bolts 38 reaching through vertical slots to the frame of the machine. The roll set IGA, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is shown 75 as having been vertically bodily oset from the common 'plane of roll operation.

The draw clamp I6 is shown in longitudinal and transverse sectional elevations in Figs. 8 and 9.

` It comprises a closed frame 39 carrying a pair of transversely extending vertically relatively adjustable clamps 40 fixed in longitudinal position by vertically extending gibs 4 I. The faces of these clamps are shaped to-accord with the section'belng rolled, the faces 42 being replaceable and removable byl division generally in the horizontal plane from the bodies of the clamps 40 and connection therewith through transversely extending keys 43 and connecting bolts 44. The upper of these clamps may be raised and lowered by vertically adjustable screws 45.

The lower of .the clamp bodies 40, however, is vertically adjustable through a. longitudinally elongated and transversely broadened wedge member 46. This long and broad wedge 46 rests in a seat 41 formed in the broad and wide bottom of the closed frame 39 of the clamp. Its adjustment is in response to the increase in the draw pull upon the strip II. To this end the wedge 46 is connected at its forward end by hinge connection 48 to a draw link I8 having a tooth 50 adapted to enter between two successive pins 5I of the draw chain I1, whereby the operation of the chain by the motor I9 in the direction of the arrow drags the clamp I6 and hence draws the strip II through the machine. The wedge 46 is retained in a determinate normal position by one or more longitudinally extending studs 56 passed vthrough the adjacent transverse wall of .frame 39, and having a biasing spring 51 of limited length. Jam nuts 58 serve to adjust the normal forward position of the wedge with zero pressure on the spring.

The clamp I6 is provided with supporting legs 52 extending forwardly and rearwardly on each side of the chain, and bearing at their extremities rollers 53 which travel in inwardly facing channel-shaped tracks 54 at opposite sides of the continuous longitudinally extending flooring 55 upon which the chain I1 travels. This affords an` elongated traveling base for the clamp.4

In operation the strip having been threaded through the rolls, and the clamp I6 having been connected to the delivery end of the strip, the starting of the electric motor I9 applies pull to lthe clamp through the link I8 in its connection with the chain, and through the clamp draws the strip II through the properly adjusted set of mating rolls I0 to form its cross section. Initial adjustment of the rolls to perform their respective ,tasks in forming the respective increments of the final cross section to be given the strip, is a matter for the skilled mechanic who initially sets up the work. The pull of the chain by an offset vertically lower than the pull on the strip, imposes a torque upon the clamp I6 counterclockwise. This torque is taken and effectively reacted in the frame of the machine by the elongated base afforded by the regular extensions 52 from the clamp frame 38.

The stronger the pull, the tighter the parts of the clamp are drawn together. The initial angle of the wedge 46 and the complemental` face of the lower clamp body 4II is-such that the upper clamp body 40 may be set up tightly against it without displacing the wedge 46. The reaction to the clamping f orce of screws 45 is taken by the wedge 46. However, the pull of the chain 5I is applied to the wedge 46 through the link I8,v

and the stronger the pull, the tighter the wedge is drawn, and the stronger becomes the clamping force of the jaws of the clamp upon the end of the strip Il, the initial reactive force of the wedge being increased and converted yinto a clamping force, and the screws 45 then taking the reaction. Thus strips cannot get away once the clamps grip them.

The adjustable bodily offsetting of the intermediate set of mating rolls lUA is made use of in the final adjustments of the machine, and sometimes in'the preliminary adjustments to offset any predisposition of thefelement of the completed cross section to a form other than a rectilinear form as drawn. A predisposition to curvature is brought about in some cases by the small radius in which the stock is initially coiled,

and in other cases from the peculiar nature of the ultimate cross section and the operations required to produce it. In either case such bending can be readily compensated for merely by verm' tically offsetting the intermediate mating set of rolls IDA. r

The independent relative axial adjustment of the heads 20 of each mating pair of rolls in the setting up of the machine, is utilized to reduce the axial dimension o f the rolls between their end faces to a minimum consistent with that increment of the ultimate cross section which each mating set of rolls is 'to achieve. Thus the inner faces of the heads' 2l! are brought 'sub stantially to abut these end faces of the rolls, and

compensate for the bending the material takes Y by reason of its coil formation, and means to draw the strip material from the boil through the sets of rolls by a pulling on the strip on theside of the rolls opposite to the coil from which it is fed into the rolls. Y

2. In a drawrolling machine,a series of sets of'draw rolls arranged to act commonly upon strip material drawn through the rolls in succesthe lengths of the stub shafts whichsupport them in their bearings, are reduced to a minimum with an ensuing minimizing of roll vand roll shaft deflections. The progressive such reduction in axial dimension of the rolls in correspondence to the progressive reduction in transverse dimension of the section increments, clearly appears in Fig. 2.

In these ways I have provided in full for the fine adjustments and reliable operations' of the machine, and at the same time have eiected an organization of parts which enables every mas- 'siveness of section needful for strength and rugged service, to be attained. Yet this has been done, it will be observed, in a manner which enables all of the parts of the machine to be given an essentialsimplicity which brings about ease of manufacture, assembly and maintenance as well as the direct and positive adjustments which are engaged in, Awith the resultant great reduction in the initial cost of the machine and its maintenance.

What is claimed is:

1. In a draw roll machine, means for supporting a coil of strip stock in sheet form, the coil being of such diameter that the material as uncoiled has a set bend in the direction of the center of the coil, three sets of draw rolls arranged to act upon the material in succession generally in a common plane, common means for offsetting the intermediate set of rolls as a unit, simultaneclaim 2, in which the draw rolls of the said intermediate set are mountedin pairs of axially relatively adjustable heads, and the means for bodily offsetting said set of rolls comprises gearing means affording simultaneous and parallel adjustment of the axes of al1 the rolls lof said set to the same degree.

4. In a Vdravv rolling machine according to claim 2 in which the sets of mating rolls are mounted each in a pair of draw roll heads adjustable axially] toward and from each other in: dependently of .each other and also independently of said offset adjustment. 5. In a draw-rolling machine, a series of sets of draw rolls arranged to act successively upon a strip of material drawn through the sets of rolls, common means for bodily oisetting one set of rolln as a unit, simultaneously at the op- 'posite ends thereof and without disturbing thecooperative relation of the rolls of said set, from the common plane of the other sets of the series to counteract a predisposition from rectilinear form of the finished drawn stock.

6. In a draw-rolling machine according to claim 5, in which each set of rolls is mounted in opposed heads and the heads of said bodily oisettable rolls are mountedV in a generally rectangular base, the four corners of which are adjustable by screws of like pitch, and commonV means for actuating said screws simultaneously to bodily oset said set of rolls.

'7. In a draw-rolling machine according` to claim 5, in which the offsettable rolls are mounted in opposed heads, the opposed heads being ouSly at the opposite ends thereof and -without adjustably mounted for movement toward and from each other on a generally rectangular base, and means' for simultaneously vertically adjusting the opposite sides of said base to Vbodily oilset said set o! rolls.

WILLIAM A. WEIGHTMAN.

disturbing the cooperative relation of 4the rollsv of said set, transaxially from' the said plane to 

